As he tours the country in Grease, Taylor Hicks has been playing some little after-hours shows in some cities along the way. I went to see one of those shows at the Roxy in Hollywood, and then when he came up to San Francisco, I caught another one of those shows at the Cafe Du Nord on a Tuesday night.

Like this:

It’s not high finance, it’s called heart and soul
If it’s rock and roll, got to go, go, go, go, go
Gonna keep moving on up to the higher ground
Gonna keep on moving on up, I got to stand my ground
Gonna keep on moving on up, I wanna stick around
Won’t let the bastards grind me down
Won’t let the bastards grind me down
Won’t let the bastards grind me down

Can’t take my love away, ah ’cause it’s here to stay
If it fades away, come back another day
Gonna keep on moving on up to the higher ground
Gonna keep on moving on up, I wanna stick around
Gonna keep on moving on up, oh gonna stand my ground
Won’t let the bastards grind me down
Won’t let the bastards grind me down
Won’t let the bastards grind me down

My name is raincheck in the afternoon
My name is raincheck, need a shot of rhythm and blues
My name is raincheck, on a golden autumn day
My name is raincheck, and I don’t fade away, I don’t fade away
I don’t fade away, I don’t fade away, unless I want to

Move it up, move it up, move it up, move it up
Move it up, move it up, move it up, move it up
Move it up, move it up, move it up, move it up, move it up

Grind me down, grind me down, grind me down

My name is raincheck in the afternoon
My name is raincheck, need a shot of rhythm and blues
My name is raincheck, on a golden autumn day
My name is raincheck, and I don’t fade away, I don’t fade away
I don’t fade away, I don’t fade away, unless I want to

Put on your dancing shoes, dance away your blues
When I’m feeling like this, I got nothing to lose
Wanna keep on moving on up to the higher ground
Wanna keep on moving on up and I’ll stick around
Wanna keep on moving on up, got to stand my ground
Won’t let the bastards grind me down
Won’t let the bastards grind me down
Oh, won’t let the bastards grind me down

My name is raincheck in the afternoon
My name is raincheck, need a shot of rhythm and blues
My name is raincheck, on a golden autumn day
My name is raincheck, and I don’t fade away, I don’t fade away
I don’t fade away, I don’t fade away, unless I choose
I choose, I choose, I choose

No, I don’t fade away, I don’t fade away, I don’t fade away
Unless I choose, I choose, I choose
I choose, I choose, I choose
I choose, I choose, I choose
I choose, I choose, I choose
I choose, I choose, I choose
No, I won’t fade away, I won’t fade away, I don’t fade away
Unless I want to